State schools chief suggests changes to aid school funds

Aaron Aupperlee | Kalamazoo GazetteState schools Superintendent Mike Flanagan talks with Theresa Shriver, 17, a Lawrence High School senior, center, and Kristen Longcore, 17, a junior at Lawrence High School, as the two demostrate using a fire hose Tuesday morning at the Van Buren Technical Center in Lawrence. State schools Superintendent Mike Flanagan toured the Van Buren Technical Center on Tuesday. During his visit, he addressed tensions surrounding the Michigan Merit Curriculum and suggested ways to save the state and schools money.LAWRENCE — Two tax changes would pump needed money into K-12 education and help stave off additional cuts, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said during a stop Tuesday in Van Buren County.

Delaying an increase in the personal exemption of the state income tax and raising taxes on some tobacco products — both of which have been suggested by Gov. Jennifer Granholm — could ease somewhat the funding crisis facing public schools, Flanagan said during a visit to the Van Buren Technical Center.

Postponing the increase in the tax exemption from $3,500 to $3,600 would cost an individual taxpayer $5 — about the price of a foot-long sandwich from Subway, Flanagan noted — but would generate $55 million for the state, he said. Raising taxes on loose tobacco; cigarillos, which are slightly larger than cigarettes but smaller than traditional cigars; and some noncigarette products could raise $140 million for the state, he said.

“It’s not grudging to business,” Flanagan said of the tax proposals. “It doesn’t run business out of the state.”

Michigan school districts face a $165-per-pupil cut in funding as part of the state budget adopted in October, Flanagan noted, and could lose an additional $127 per student if more revenue is not identified by Friday.

Without other measures, the tax proposals outlined would not cure funding ills for education, Flanagan said.

“If we don’t keep saying that we’re willing to reform and control costs, they won’t give us a thing,” he told staff members at the Van Buren Technical Center and superintendents from 15 school districts that send students there.

Tuesday’s visit and tour of the center were arranged, in part, for Flanagan to see how the center integrates traditional math, English and other studies into a hands-on, career-focused curriculum. The Michigan Merit Curriculum and state-imposed graduation requirements that begin with the class of 2011 have some people worried that time for career and technical education courses will be cut.

Instructors showed off several of the center’s offerings, from welding, plastics and auto-repair programs to instruction on fire safety and floral arrangements.

Flanagan sounded impressed.

“This is maybe the best career center I’ve seen,” he said, “and I’ve seen a lot.”